The following morning, Auren returned to the Adventurer's Guild to take his formal written examination. He arrived earlier than expected, as was his habit.
The registrar led him through a quiet corridor into a room filled with wooden tables and uneven chairs.
The space was dim, lit by two crystal lamps flickering faintly at the corners. He noticed there were no windows, only smooth gray walls enclosing the silence. It was designed that way—no outside help, no distractions.
The desks were rough, their surfaces marked with old carvings of initials and uneven knife cuts. The air smelled faintly of ink, parchment, and candle smoke.
It reminded him of the public schools back on Earth—cheap, functional, unpolished. But it didn't matter. For Auren, results were all that mattered.
"The exam will begin in a few minutes," said the registrar. "Please wait here while we prepare the papers."
"Alright. Thanks," Auren replied.
